'''Hobbits''' are a subtrope of the LittlePeople popularized by [[Creator/JRRTolkien J.R.R.Tolkien]] and now frequently found in a StandardFantasySetting. While ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' has defined the modern interpretation of [[FiveRaces most of the races]] in fantasy fiction, hobbits are unique in the sense that they were nearly completely Tolkien's own creation. They were adopted to other fantasy worlds via the general influence of Tolkien's works on the StandardFantasySetting and particularly via ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', which called them '''Halflings'''.[[note]] After being sued by the Tolkien estate for calling them hobbits.[[/note]]. Their oddly specific traits tend to include very high magic resistance, good luck, ability to move about unnoticed (though not invisible) and good sling, slingshot and rock throwing abilities. Tolkien's original Hobbits were known for their tough, furry feet, which led to them [[DoesNotLikeShoes not requiring or enjoying footwear]] - this is not necessarily carried over to later versions.

Contrary to popular belief, the word "hobbit" dates back at least to 1895 and probably earlier; folklorist [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Aislabie_Denham Michael Aislabie Denham]] mentions them in a LongList of [[http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/bump.html fantastical creatures]]. Tolkien probably read the Denham Tracts somewhere along the way and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptomnesia his mind stowed it away unknowingly]]. (See Quotes.AllTrollsAreDifferent for the full list.) It is, nevertheless, common for non-Tolkien works to come up with a [[WritingAroundTrademarks different name]] for their hobbit-like race, as the Tolkien estate, and even more so the owners of the film rights, are notoriously litigious. Halfling serves as the copyright-free default.

Referencing their Fae origins, the film version of ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' gives them pointy ears. Their Fae, part human nature, in addition to their height, is part of the reason why they are also known as '''Halflings'''. It is easy to assume hobbits [[AudienceSurrogate are stand-ins for the audience]] as they tend not to have combat prowess and lack magic (other than the "ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly") or other flashy gimmicks. Paradoxically, this can make them seem more like "modern" humans than the humans in their settings.

They are usually a small, "innocent" version of people who only want to enjoy life without big plans or complications. Hobbits also tend to be small -- 3'6" on average. This possibly [[KidAppealCharacter makes younger audiences easily identify with them]]. It is an easy way to make them seem less threatening to other characters. Jerks will get frustrated with them. If your cast is otherwise filled with fantastic and lordly people, you know people who treat them nicely [[PetTheDog are good at heart]]. When they're thrown into the world suddenly, they have to survive on their wits and luck and may find out [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre they have qualities they were unaware of]]. They occasionally are the ones to get the GoldenSnitch. At the beginning of a given story, a hobbit character will usually also be naive, unworldly, and illustrate the difference between wisdom and intelligence; they usually have a fair amount of the former, with none of the latter.

If the Hobbit/Halfling is a member of TheTeam (and you will find them either there or as a walk-on character, not a central protagonist) then expect him to act as TheSneakyGuy, (more specifically, the Thief from the FighterMageThief trio, or a [[Literature/TheHobbit "burglar"]] in the TropeMaker) He will also periodically overcome his [[TheSoCalledCoward apparently fearful nature]] and [[LetsGetDangerous get dangerous]], with a resulting SuperWeight of 1, edging towards 2 in some cases. Character development usually revolves around them learning WaifFu, becoming less naive, (simply because their native environment usually isn't dangerous at all, but the world outside it is) and [[TookALevelInBadass taking a level in badass]] in general terms.

It is common in {{anime}} for Hobbits to appear literally like [[CutesyDwarf look like young children, regardless of age.]]

If the heroes encounter an entire town of Hobbits, it is to protect such a place from encroaching forces of evil.

See ''Literature/TheHobbit'' for the book by Creator/JRRTolkien, and ''Film/TheHobbit'' for the film.

----!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]* The Grassrunners from ''Roleplay/RecordOfLodossWar'' fill the halfling niche, but have a bit of TheFairFolk about them as well: Maar, the heroes' token smallfellow, has a playful exterior but is capable of treachery and subterfuge and sometimes wields magic underhandedly. The Grassrunners are separate from Halflings in the published RPG, though.* The Prums in ''LightNovel/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon'' were modelled after the Hobbits and were originally called such. As the Creator/JRRTolkien estate complained, the race was renamed after "parum," the Latin word for "small."* Halflings is one of the races in ''Manga/DungeonMeshi''. Physically, they look like human children with bigger ears (Chilchack, a halfling in the main party, looks around 10 years old, but is actually 29). They're weak in combat, but they possess sharper senses, allowing them to detect dangers and traps earlier.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]* Marvel Comics has "Pip the Troll", who does not actually has features of a troll, but those of a hobbit: smoker, bare feet, slacker, enjoys good life and fun, etc. * Betty in ''ComicBook/RatQueens'' was referred to as a Hobbit in pre-publication publicity material, but is called a "Smidgen" in the actual comics. This is assumed to be due to WritingAroundTrademarks.* In [[PolishMedia Polish fantasy-comedy comic book series]] ''Lil i Put'' ( [[PunnyName Lil and Put]] ) the two titular hobbit-like characters are vagabonds, conman and tricksters. Their race however is called "Maloludy" (literally "little people" or "Not much people", which is [[MultipleReferencePun play on Polish word for "gigants" - "Wielkoludy", as well "youngsters"- "Malolaty"]])* ''ComicBook/TheGreatPowerOfChninkel'': The chninkels are a tiny, big-eyed, pointy-eared and vaguely humanoid people who have been enslaved by three immortals tyrants for centuries to wage war amongst themselves.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Card Games]]* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering''** When designing the ''Lorwyn'' block, a fairytale setting that focuses heavily on the [[PlanetOfHats races and jobs of creatures]], the design team didn't feel quite ready to make a card that [[ThisLoserIsYou cared about the "Human" type]]. Their solution? The kithkin, who are — take a guess — short, quick villager-types. They are a bit more [[BuffySpeak fighty]] than the standard model, but this is ''Magic: The Gathering'' we are talking about, non-fighty groups [[TheLawOfConservationOfDetail don't get cards printed]]. (For the sake of originality they threw in a dash of [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame dwarf]] as well. The actual dwarves of Lorwyn are called Duergars.) Kithkin actually originated a decade earlier in ''Legends'' with the card Amrou Kithkin... which in development was named "Hobbit".** ''Magic'' also has two kithkin cultures which diverge from the standard Hobbit theme: The kithkin of Amrou on the world of Dominaria are close-knit nomads in a [[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic wasteland]], while those of Shadowmoor (a sort of [[BizarroUniverse Bizarro-Lorwyn]]) are [[TorchesAndPitchforks violently xenophobic]] [[HiddenElfVillage castle-dwellers]] with unnaturally large, blank eyes and a HiveMind.** They're only in a post-apocalyptic wasteland [[CaptainObvious after the apocalypse]]. They debuted on a card in ''Legends'' (which in design was called "Hobbit"), although they weren't seen again until ''Time Spiral''.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]* ''WesternAnimation/TheHobbit'' (animated) is the source of the trope image, of course.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' and ''Film/TheHobbit'' of course.* The Nelwyns from the 1988 fantasy film ''Film/{{Willow}}'', made by Creator/RonHoward and Creator/GeorgeLucas. Although an otherwise straight example, Willow himself takes on the BigBad on in the end and wins. Although this is through a bluff about his level of power (and some practiced sleight-of-hand), by the end of the sequel novels (a.k.a. the ''Shadow'' trilogy) he is probably the most powerful mortal magic user in the setting. He retires; having decided it's LonelyAtTheTop and goes back to his community.* The Gelflings from the movie ''Film/TheDarkCrystal'' are equal parts elf and hobbit. [[spoiler:Gelfling women actually [[BizarreSexualDimorphism have fairy-like wings]]]]. The Podlings in the same movie are a more traditional example. [[note]] It should be noted that both the Gelfings and Podlings were initially designed as being more animal-like in appearance, but it was soon felt that this made them too alien in appearance.[[/note]]* Although considerably furrier than usual, the Ewoks of ''Franchise/StarWars'' certainly count.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* The trope name comes from the race of small people who act as surrogates for middle-class Englishmen in the works of Creator/JRRTolkien (just in case you've been skimming through the page thus far or ignoring the films). Part of the reason is Hobbits were originally created for ''Literature/TheHobbit'' only; in the early drafts they were even more like modern humans (Bilbo owns a clock, all the hobbits have "normal" surnames and given names even in ''LOTR''). Frodo's friends occasionally grumble how Hobbits are left out of most legendary stories they've heard, which some fans have taken as a reference to how difficult it might have been for Tolkien to bring them in line with a larger epic fantasy.\\\However, this trope is also downplayed by Tolkien's description of Hobbits seeming soft because they lead comfortable lives, not that they're ''inherently'' weak. Much like Englishmen, they are just about as likely to be adventurous (Frodo's crew) as they are to be assholes (Lotho Sackville-Baggins), although at the time the story takes place there's quite a bit of social / cultural pressure to be more stay-at-home. Early role-playing games featuring halflings banked on Tolkien's description that used to wander from place to place and that their skill in games and sports has a lot to do with being pretty tough.\\\Hobbits within the Tolkien mythology are also curiously resistant to the effects of TheCorruption caused by Sauron's powers, particularly the One Ring. Hobbits were the only ones capable of handling the One Ring without being completely ensnared by its power, though they aren't immune to its effects; for example, Sméagol/Gollum was consumed by the One Ring's power when he found it, and at the climax of ''The Return Of The King'' the One Ring is able to prevent Frodo from throwing it into Mount Doom. Not to underrate their resistance, however, as only three beings to possess the One Ring EVER voluntarily gave it up; two were Hobbits, and one was Tom Bombadil, who was ...''something'' that was somehow immune to the Ring's effects.** The immunity of the Hobbits was due to their upbringing causing most of them to think small and only reach for what was close at hand. This relative lack of ambition (compared to the other sentient races) meant that the One Ring didn't have a lot to tempt them with -- Sam saw himself making the entire realm into his garden, which even he thought was too far out. Of course, there were exceptions and in the end Frodo may have been vulnerable due to a less sheltered upbringing from his uncle Bilbo's influence. Bilbo himself had rather benign inclinations even after feeling the Ring's influence.* Hilariously parodied by the Boggies of ''Literature/BoredOfTheRings'' who are gluttonous, cowardly, slovenly, and slothful. And mentally handicapped even by the standards of the setting.* The Warrows from Dennis L. [=McKiernan=]'s ''Literature/{{Mithgar}}'' books fit Tolkien's Hobbit mold. One of them is even named Pippin! They tend, though, to be more adventurous than Tolkien's Hobbits, are more quick to defend themselves and have a well-organized militia.** [=McKiernan=]'s contribution to the Tolkien tribute anthology ''After the King'', examples of this trope meet up at a wayhouse reserved for little folk, along with some smaller members of TheFairFolk. Some are named, while others are BrandX-style imports from the sources listed above.* ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' features the Kender, who are... pretty much nothing like hobbits at all, despite being Krynn's version of the halfling (''D&D'' hobbit) species. They're a race of small humanoids who resemble sylvan children in both appearance and personality; an entire species of {{Fearless Fool}}s who literally ''can't'' feel fear without magic being employed, are eternally curious, easily bored, and naturally adept at thieving, as they combine innate speed, dexterity and gentleness with a childhood tradition of learning to pick locks and pockets so they can sate their insatiable curiosity. They're ''supposed'' to be seen as sweet, innocent and adorable, with setting information [[CreatorsPet often talking about]] their IncorruptiblePurePureness, and explaining their quirks as being cute and harmless... In reality, most people InUniverse find them immensely irritating, while readers/gamers regard the whole species as TheScrappy. They are, in a nutshell an entire race that spends its entire lifespan in the combination of the two most annoying phases of childhood; the insatiably curious MotorMouth phase and the StickyFingers phase.** The reason why they're that way is a case of GameplayAndStoryIntegration. The original Dragonlance novels were made to promote the modules/campaign setting for ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', and in that edition, halflings were basically limited to always being thieves as a ShoutOut to Bilbo's role in the adventuring party in ''Literature/TheHobbit''. The authors created kender as a way to believably explain why such a race would always produce thieves, yet not be either AlwaysChaoticEvil or simply wiped out due to being obnoxious. For example, their thieving isn't "really" thieving but just them borrowing interesting stuff and then forgetting to give it back, a result of their insatiable curiosity and their short attention span. Likewise, their thieving skills are all trained as the result developing the skills necessary for sating their curiosity; a kender always has to see what interesting new things they can find inside people's pockets or behind locked door.* ''Literature/TheWitcher'' plays them entirely straight, with a helping of BewareTheNiceOnes.* R.A. Salvatore's ''Crimson Shadow'' series has halflings. Especially the awesome character of Oliver deBurrows.* David Weber's ''[[Literature/TheWarGods WarGod]]'' series plays up the thieving, cowardly image for its version of Halflings. Except the Marfang Islander halflings who are brilliant sailors and brave to what the other races consider reckless insanity. They've all got small horns on their foreheads as well to set them apart physically.* The Fiia of Creator/UrsulaKLeGuin's ''Rocannon's World'' fit this trope to a T: a small child-like race that just wants to enjoy a simple communal life free of care and fear. The Athsheans of ''The Word for World is Forest'' are also something like this (they described as looking rather like Ewoks, only green). They're a peaceful bunch until [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters humans]] turn up. * Jody Lynn Nye's ''An Unexpected Apprentice'' features the race of "smallfolk", who are Tolkien's hobbits in all but name. The main difference is that instead of having large, hairy feet, the smallfolk have no toes.* Subverted by Michael de Larrabeti in his ''Literature/{{Borribles}}'' novels, in which the eponymous human-offshoots are urbanized, adventurous, scruffy, and tough; they live in a world much like ours, but with fantastical elements. They share stereotypical hobbits' small size, stealthiness, distaste for authority, compassion for animals, and tendency to steal whatever's not nailed down.* The Minnipins in Carol Kendall's ''Literature/TheGammageCup''. Their short stature is not really made clear until they encounter (presumably) regular-sized humans in the sequel.* Parodied in ''The Soddit'' by A.R.R. Roberts. The opening paragraphs take everything in Tolkien's description UpToEleven (except the tough feet, which is inverted), and note that with all their disadvantages and conservatism, it's really weird that they seem to have reached a 18th-19th century level of technology when everyone else is in MedievalStasis.* ''Literature/TheSundering'' by Jacqueline Carey, which is explicitly modeled on ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', has the Yarru-yami. The Yarru-yami, in contrast to Tolkien's hobbits, are dark-skinned and inhabit a desert. The two who go on a quest are portrayed as rather naive.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Myths & Religion]]* Hob, hobthrush, hobthrust and hobgoblin are all English names for "little people" similar to brownies who can be either helpful or mischievous. One story from the Runswick bay area even has the local hobthrust living in a "hobhole". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hob_(folklore)* Hobbit appears on a list of supernatural creatures compiled by folklorist Michael Aislabie Denham in 1895, though no description of what exactly they are is given. The only other known use of the word hobbit at the time would have been a Welsh unit of measurement for weight or volume of grain.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':** "Halflings" started life as Tolkien's Hobbits with the SerialNumbersFiledOff; indeed, the game originally used "hobbit" back in the 1970s, but Tolkien Enterprises (the independent company in charge of licensed materials, no association with Christoper Tolkien) waved its lawyers at Creator/{{TSR}} and the term was changed. Traditionally, halflings are separated into three subraces, all [[PragmaticAdaptation transparent]] [[CaptainErsatz Captains Ersatz]] of Tolkien's three strains of hobbits: the standard ''hairfoots'', the forest-dwelling ''tallfellows'', and the crafty ''stouts'' or ''deep halflings''.** Starting with Third Edition, halflings got a major overhaul and became much less Tolkienesque; in the process becoming more adventurous and less innocent; the default subrace became the ''lightfoots'', who were portrayed not as jovial homebodies but tricksy nomads. Over time they have physically become "sexier" and less hobbitlike, to the point that some now see them as [[OurElvesAreBetter short elves]]. The "cuter", more provincial traits of the "old" halflings were mostly given to the [[OurGnomesAreWeirder gnomes]], who were described as living in cozy burrow-towns.** ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}'' took it even further; some halflings are ''[[RuleOfCool dinosaur-riding barbarians]]'', even though they still get the inoffensive dragonmarks.** Nowhere went further than ''TabletopGame/DarkSun'', which featured savage, jungle-dwelling cannibal halflings -- about as far from Tolkien's hobbits as you can get. Not [[AssPull to]] mention genetically engineering near universal mutation of every creature. Creating magic based on either killing the world, or killing people en-masse. Actively orchestrating the extinction of any other sentient race. And doing all this to fix the problem of having brutally screwed the world up in the first place. Except not really. It was mostly the work of the setting's BiggerBad, Rajaat, who was himself the [[MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch sole evil member]] of a race of mystical caretakers of the world (not halflings). He did intend for halflings (Athas's first sentients) to be the sole surviving humanoid species, but they themselves had no idea, and his main pawns were [[HumansAreBastards humans]]. The only thing halflings had to do with is about a third of the mutation bit, which gave rise to other intelligent beings after a major SNAFU that destroyed [[{{Precursors}} their first civilization]].** TabletopGame/{{Mystara}}'s halflings have some well-hidden magical aptitudes that work only in their homeland, which explains why such little guys haven't been conquered recently. They kick out their misfits and thugs (yes, there are such things), who head off to become swashbuckling pirates. These things happen when you let Ed Greenwood write your country's game supplement.** Halflings in ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'' tend to follow the Tolkien model of settled stay-at-homes, as they're the most tolerated demihumans in the Land of Mists and prefer not to rock the boat. Plus, y'know, it's ''Ravenloft'', so unless you're a Vistani, living like a gypsy is bound to get you eaten by something out there on the roads at night.** ''TabletopGame/{{Birthright}}'' had its own twist on Halflings, they were refugees from the World of Shadow, a Mirror World inhabited by the dead and TheFairFolk (of which they were a subrace).** ''TabletopGame/{{Dragonlance}}'' [[TheScrappy (unfortunately) introduced the Kender]]. Kender are basically halflings but defined by their very, ''very'' poor grasp of the concept of personal property -- a Kender will often pick other people's pockets and rifle through their bags to stave off boredom and then getting offended when people accuse them of being thieves. In canon they're actually treated as a ''good'' race and their manic kleptomania is treated as a sort of childishly innocent curiosity; whenever the Kender rogue swipes the wizard's spellbook or the cleric's prized holy symbol, they really just don't know any better, hence why killing them is canonically treated as the same as [[WouldHurtAChild child murder]]. Characterized by the fandom as pathologically lying, terminally stupid and sticky-fingered ChaoticStupid little troublemakers and sociopaths with a massive case of ProtagonistCenteredMorality, the phrase "I wanna roll a Kender character!" [[FandomBerserkButton is an insta-ban offence in many tabletop groups]].** Fourth Edition splits the difference, with Halflings being half thieving nomads and and half simple Louisiana-style bayou and swamp-dwelling rednecks. Really.** Fifth Edition halflings look more hobbit-like than in the third and fourth editions, with unseemingly slender limbs and disproportionally-large heads. They also return to their kindly and pastoral culture from previous editions.** As mentioned above in Literature, the original halflings were pigeonholed into the Thief class, which led to the creation of Kender. Although subsequent editions lightened up on this, their traits still tended to force them into certain roles, via SquareRaceRoundClass. This was increasingly lessened, until 4th and 5th editions made it possible to effortlessly play halflings as {{Pintsize Powerhouse}}s.** One supplementary sourcebook for 3E, the "Book of Vile Darkness", adds extremely rare ''evil'' hobbits, the Jerrens. They're basically imperfect prototype halflings with violent mood swings. In an early war against the goblins, the jerrens gleefully sank to levels which ''[[EvenEvilHasStandards disgusted said goblins]]''.* The ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' campaign world "Obsidian Twilight" has halflings who are essentially garbage-dwelling [[{{Film/CHUD}} CHUDs]]. For some reason. The game also has a more vanilla variety as one of the "core" races of the game. Pathfinder Halflings tend to be cheerful opportunists who prefer to avoid the limelight (and the problems that come with it). In many Human nations, halflings are prized as servants and, in less enlightened kingdoms, slaves.* ''[[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} Warhammer Fantasy]]'' :** This version are much closer to Tolkien's Hobbits, although they are technically part of the Empire and their land -- the Moot -- is not so well-protected. They're stereotyped as being either thieves or excellent cooks, but also tend to make plucky rangers, fur-trappers and gamekeepers and sometimes even send regiments of spearmen and archers to fight in the Imperial army. Like Tolkien's hobbits they tend to exhibit the characteristics of sedentary English country folk, though occasionally mixed in with those of early new world frontiersmen -- the famous Halfling mercenary regiment led by Lumpin Croop, for instance, uses a weathervane as its standard and a pub dart board as its leader's shield, but wears a mixture of Davy Crockett fur hats, German peasant caps and English flat caps. Their cookery skills have also been weaponised in the past. Most famously Gambo Hartstock's Hot Pot Catapult -- a makeshift war machine consisting of a wooden spit rest strung with elastic that throws cauldrons of boiling soup over the enemy. In one fan-made citadel journal all-halflings army list they were also given a ''Steam Tank'', converted into a mobile camp kitchen. BewareTheNiceOnes indeed.** They also naturally appear in ''TabletopGame/BloodBowl'', where they are essentially the {{Joke Character}}s of the game. In-universe, the Halfling team is so bad they once managed to lose a game where the other team ''failed to show up''.** In some ''Warhammer'' material, ''Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay'' especially, halflings are resistant to Chaos warping or immune to mutation. They are also presented as voracious omnivores who are not above [[ImAHumanitarian eating you out of house and home]]. And they may be of the same stock as [[OurOgresAreHungrier Ogres]], who are tougher, hungrier, and much bigger. Specifically, the Old Ones, whose intervention created the "good" races of the Warhammer World at the dawn of history, seem to have created Ogres and Halflings last of all their children, in a rush thanks to the impending collapse of the world under the Chaos incursions. Unlike Elves, Dwarfs and Humans though, they are rushed and incomplete races -- crude and brutish on the one hand, docile and defenseless on the other (more or less). They are both, however, resistant to magic, which is perhaps why they were made in the first place -- to resist the encroachment of Chaos. The ogres even seem to have a subconscious awareness that they are supposed to work with the halflings, but since the two live in vastly different areas, they've adopted a breed of goblin known as "gnoblars" to fill the void (and occasionally their stomachs).* The strain of [[{{Mutants}} Abhuman]] in ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' called Ratlings fit the bill as Space Hobbits, but they don't get much play in the lore or game. Mostly, they serve in the Imperial Guard as cooks, quartermasters, and snipers. In keeping with 40K's GRIMDARK tendencies, they're greedy, thieving, fornicating little bastards. In ''TabletopGame/OnlyWar'' they get a bit more spotlight, being playable in their sniper role.* ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness''** ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheDreaming'' features boggans, a kith of short, sociable folk who are very good at craftwork and reading any social gathering and understanding all the connections therein.** ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost'' has some Wizened kiths with similar abilities, though overall the seeming has more in common with [[OurGnomesAreWeirder gnomes]].* The Swedish RPG ''TabletopGame/{{Eon}}'' has Misslas being the stand-in for Hobbits. Pysically, they are around 80-100 cm "tall" humans with long, pointy ears (think "anime elf ears" and you've got the idea). Mentally they're typically very cheerful and have an adventurous spirit that's easily roused. They're rather child-like, a bit naive and considered [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} odd-balls]] by most races since they're LiteralMinded, SarcasmBlind, have some difficulty understanding arbitrary and abstract concepts like monetary values and their standard reaction to being told to beware of something is to seek it out so they can learn how to beware of it. Their culture puts most of its emphasis on simple things like song, dance and storytelling and they're quite well-known for their culinary skills. The Misslas are also able to telepathically exchange thoughts, memories and feelings with other Misslas by making physical contact. Interestingly, the Misslas are, according to legend, not native to the setting's universe: About 2000 years before the RPG's present time, some Misslas fell into Mundana through a hole in the sky after a climatic battle with an evil wizard.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Toys]]* The Matoran of ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}''. They have no powers to speak of in a world where superpowers are the norm and AppliedPhlebotinum is used on a daily basis. They are, however, extremely hardy and can take pretty much whatever the world throws at them. Their personalities, though, can range from the hot-headed Fire tribe to the cool, collected Ice tribe, and from the wise, sensible Earth tribe to the fun-loving Air tribe. They do most of the manual labor in their world and are often overlooked by more GenreBlind villains. They can also be transformed into Toa, Bionicle's default hero, by {{Power Crystal}}s, [[LightningCanDoAnything space lightning]], or the PowersThatBe, usually BecauseDestinySaysSo.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* Zigzagged in the ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'' series. It's based on TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms, mentioned above, and it thoroughly averts the SquareRaceRoundClass trope due to the 2nd edition ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' rules, and the first game includes a perky Halfling rogue. On the other hand, your player character can be a Halfling and be perfectly badass, the first game also includes Montaron (a NeutralEvil assassin who is surly, vicious, bad-tempered, and sociopathic) and the second game introduces Mazzy Fentan, a brave and bold LawfulGood warrior who comes as close as she can possibly get to being ThePaladin.* In DarkSoulsII, the Bell Keepers are a race of puppets brought to life by the Prince of Venn. They look and talk like hobbits and are pathologically joyful, but also happen to be bloodthirsty warriors at the same time.* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' ** Two subversions in the metaseries. In ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI XI]]'', the tiny Tarutaru are actually the game's best spellcasters, while in ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles Crystal Chronicles]]'', Lilties are hardcore fighters who nearly took over the land in ages past.** Moogles from the ''Franchise/IvaliceAlliance'' count, too. *** Curiously, although moogles do have several rogue-ish classes, Moogle Knights are among the hardest hitting fighters in the Tactics Advance games.** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has the Lalafell, who are an {{expy}} of the Tarutaru. Though, race has no mechanical effect in ''XIV''.* The Toads of the SuperMarioBros series are essentially fungal versions of hobbits.* Grunts of ''{{Franchise/Halo}}'' can generally be thought of this way. They're shorter than all the others, standing at a mere five feet, and are mostly for comic relief and they suck at fighting. They are somewhat childlike and naive compared to the other races of the Covenant, but are not as isolated from danger as other examples here. Their home world is a frozen wasteland that has occasional spontaneous fire tornadoes due to the methane atmosphere. Freezing and/or burning to death are daily occurrences. Despite all that, though, they ''still'' tend to be hobbit-like in mentality.* Hurthlings in ''VideoGame/AncientDomainsOfMystery'' are mostly this. Short, stealthy, good archers, and have Cooking skill for free. Also they, like Tolkienesque ones, dislike footwear -- i.e., move faster without boots of any kind.* Hobbits are less than gracefully shoehorned into ''VideoGame/LufiaTheRuinsOfLore''.* The Kokiri of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' live hundreds of years but never mature past childhood. They are able to live comfortably and innocently in their LostWoods because of their steward, the Deku Tree. While Link himself is not a Kokiri, his upbringing among them makes him temperamentally closer to them than to Hylians.* ''{{VideoGame/Ultima}}'' had the Bobbit race as more or less a direct {{Expy}} of Tolkien's creation, with an aptitude for classes which required Wisdom. [[spoiler:They were wiped out during the cataclysm that followed Exodus' defeat.]]* The Halflings of ''VideoGame/ArcanumOfSteamworksAndMagickObscura'' are basically Hobbits. You meet a Halfling adventurer who states that there are very few like him.* The Halflings in ''VideoGame/AgeOfWonders'' are a variety of Hobbits. They [[EthicalHedonist value happiness above all]], but as its definition varies by individual, they include selfless priests and eccentric pranksters and [[LovableRogue roguish adventurers]]. And then they mark the HiddenDepths box when they join Keepers en masse, not for gain, revenge or even necessity, but simply a place in songs and a chance to do a good deed.* There are Halflings in the ''VideoGame/{{Overlord}}'' series. In the first game they're the first group of fantasy races you fight and conquer. The live underground and are heavily focused on food.* Ewoks in ''VideoGame/LEGOStarWars'' not only have the "Shortie" skill of sneaking through vents (the only two non-Ewok Shortie characters are children), but also use slingshots.* In the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series, the Volus fill this to varying degrees. Short, chubby aliens in space suits, they tend to be very skilled and adventurous businessmen (and occasional comic relief). While they are outmatched by most other things in the galaxy in a one-on-one fight, they ''do'' have a surprisingly powerful navy (complete with one of the most heavily armed dreadnoughts in Council Space), and they are close allies with the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Turians.]] * The Orlans in ''VideoGame/PillarsOfEternity'' blend the Tolkien/D&D hobbit with [[OurGnomesAreWeirder gnomes]]. They're short humanoids with two-toned skin and large, hairy ears. They've been victimized repeatedly by other cultures they've come in contact with and have either progressively retreated deeper into the wilds or resorted to guerrilla warfare.* ''VideoGame/ShiningWisdom'' has a kingdom of Hobbits within the kingdom ruled by man. Oddly enough they appear to be the same size of normal people and the only defining characteristic is that they can dig underground.** In other ''Franchise/ShiningSeries'' games they are closer to Tolkien lore; squat, beardless and good natured.* Halflings showed up two times in VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic, the first time in ''II'' as slingshot-using burrows-dwelling short people connected to the (wasteland-associated) Wizards, and the second time in ''III's Armageddon's Blade'' expansion, where they were independent slingshot-using thatched hut-dwellers short people waging a guerilla war against the devil ([[spoiler: actually alien]]) invaders that have taken over and turned their homeland into a volcanic waste (''II'' and ''III'' take place on separate continents). * Halflings show up in ''VideoGame/TheWitcher'' and its sequels. They are taken directly from the Tolkien mold, down to not wearing shoes and having hairy feet. Not only are their feet hairy, their hands are as well and quite possibly their entire bodies. Though unlike dwarves and elves they're mainly limited to being minor background NPC's.** One NPC in ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt'' even has the throwaway line "Don't you dare call me a Hobbitson."* The Trykers of ''VideoGame/{{Ryzom}}'' are half as short as everyone else and are pretty playful and childlike in nature (though that doesn't stop them from being fairly powerful fighters themselves).* Halflings are one of the playable races in ''VideoGame/TalesOfMajEyal''. Unlike most depictions, halflings in Eyal are a militaristic race whose slings are terrifyingly deadly, despite the halflings' small size. In the past, they forged the racist [[TheEmpire Nargol Empire]] through military prowess and magical mad science, enslaving humans, yeeks and the first orc tribes, and creating a lot of the problems that beset Eyal to this very day. Modern halflings are equal partners in the Allied Kingdoms, and most of them have settled down to be peaceful farmers, but halfling adventurers are still respected and feared for their ability.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]* Wombats in ''{{Webcomic/Digger}}'' are sensible, practical, and NayTheist, very much different from every other race introduced. The protagonist gets lost and finds herself in a world full of magic and gods: CultureClash ensues.* There's a side in ''{{Webcomic/Erfworld}}'' called "Hobbit™". It's unknown what type of units it has, or if Tolkien Enterprises will be undeterred by the TradeSnark and press charges.* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': Belkar's race is 'halfling' but he does not fit any of the above character traits (sneaky, innocent, jolly etc) and is instead a HeroicComedicSociopath and [[TokenEvilTeammate the only evil protagonist]]. He still uses Halfling racial abilities to his advantage such as jumping around or throwing objects (daggers). -->'''Belkar's (former) Shoulder Angel:''' He's a halfling. He's supposed to be jolly...\\Why isn't he jolly?\\WHY ISN'T HE JOLLY???** He is a gourmet chef though. And can identify ingredients by scent, as well as people too somehow.** He does maintain the ability to throw rocks, as evidenced by [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0745.html this episode]], when he causes an angry mob to flee in terror the moment he picks up a small pebble.** He also actually uses the word "hobbit" on rare occasions, and his usage indicates that it's the halfling version of NWordPrivileges (e.g., "Hobbit, please!")* Lambert from ''WebComic/IrregularWebcomic'' is an RPG-style halfling who, like the rest of his party, is a walking stereotype. Despite this, he's always referred to as a hobbit, with the author at one point invoking InsistentTerminology that he's not a halfling.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]* In ''Literature/TalesOfMU'', hobbits and gnomes are the same race, "halfling" is a slur. Culturally, they're divided into shirelanders, who live in gentrified holes in the ground, and the more fun-loving riverfolk.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', Dexter, [=Dee Dee=] and three other guys are playing a CaptainErsatz of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', and [=Dee Dee=] gives Dexter a character named "Hodo the Furry-Footed Burrower", who actually digs tunnels à la WesternAnimation/BugsBunny. And his only "weapon" is his deadly... [[InstrumentOfMurder mandolin]]?* The Kiwi in ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers'' are a cheerful, easy-going bunch who stand roughly a meter high, and specialize in agricultural technology. They also seem unusually hard to rattle or scare. Of course, if you get them to the fighting point, they turn out to be a case of BewareTheNiceOnes.* The Trobbits in ''WesternAnimation/{{Blackstar}}'' clearly get their name as a combination of "troll" and "hobbit." Their depiction, though, probably owes more to ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs''.* The Prairie People on ''WesternAnimation/{{Bravestarr}}.''* The ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'' episode "Johnny Bravo Goes Hollywood" has Johnny auditioning for a Hollywood role. He is shown around the studio by a group of stars, including a hobbit.* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGummiBears'' has the eponymous anthropomorphic magical bears. They live underground hidden from the sight of humans, ogres and other big creatures, generally avoid involvement in human affairs ([[DependingOnTheWriter except of course when they don’t]]) and are experts in hiding and sneaking. [[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_floresiensis Homo floresiensis]]'' have been nicknamed "hobbits", and were often barely over 3ft 7inches. It has been debated over they were just Homo Sapiens which had undergone insular dwarfism, but with further evidence they do seem to be a separate species of hominid. [[/folder]]----